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[ISDH]Prevention is Power is the Theme for National Minority Health Month

Start Date:

4/3/2014

Start Time:

12:00 AM

End Date:

4/3/2014

Entry Description

INDIANAPOLIS—April is National Minority Health Month and this year's theme is “Prevention is Power: Taking Action for Health Equity,” which calls attention to the critical role of prevention in reducing health disparities. It is a call to action, a charge for all Hoosiers to unite towards a common goal of improving the health of Indiana and our communities.

Enacted by Congress, National Minority Health Month was established as an effort to reduce health disparities and improve the health status of minority populations. National Minority Health Month also addresses the health needs of African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and other minorities. Its goal is to help strengthen the capacity of local communities to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness in minority populations through prevention, early detection, and control of disease complications.

Indiana is among several states and organizations that are celebrating National Minority Health Month in April to raise awareness of minority health issues. The aim is to reduce health disparities and provide information about current practices and guidelines that have been implemented to address health disparity and equity.

“We know that a healthier Indiana is a stronger Indiana,” said State Health Commissioner William VanNess, M.D. “Yet, too many Hoosiers don’t have the chance to lead a healthy life. As a result, they experience significantly more health problems than others. Some Americans can expect to live 20 years less than others because of where they live, their race, their education or income.”

The Indiana State Department of Health is also addressing its top priorities: Reducing infant mortality, reducing obesity and reducing smoking among racial and ethnic minorities. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African-Americans have the highest rate of infant mortality and high rates of obesity. About four out of five African-American women are overweight or obese.

The goal of the Office of Minority Health, a division of the Indiana State Department of Health, is to improve the health of all racial and ethnic populations in Indiana through increased awareness, partnerships and the development and promotion of effective health policies and programs that help to reduce minority health disparities.

“With the help of other partners, including the federal and state government, the private sector, and leaders here in our own communities, we can work together to make sure that everyone has equal potential for good health,” said Antoniette Holt, director of the Office of Minority Health.

The Office of Minority Health has put together a calendar of Minority Health-related events taking place during National

Minority Health Month, including events such as the Latino Health Organization Fair and the Indiana Minority Health Coatlition Town Hall Luncheon. For more information about these and other events and to view the calendar, visit www.minorityhealth.isdh.in.gov.

Coming up in July, the Indiana State Department of Health will host the 2014 INShape Indiana Black and Minority Health Fair, as part of the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration. The Health Fair further expands on National Minority Health Month’s goal of improving minority health and offers opportunities for attendees to receive many free health screenings, as well as learn ways to improve health and prevent disease.

In collaboration with organizations around the state, the Indiana State Department of Health's Office of Minority Health educates Hoosiers about health disparities that affect minorities. For more information, contact the Office of Minority Health at 317-233-7685, INOMH@isdh.in.gov or visit www.minorityhealth.isdh.in.gov. Follow the Office of Minority Health on Twitter @INMinorityHth.

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